ICT

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS OF THE ICT DEPARTMENT

The ICT department would like to warmly welcome the following teachers:

Divya Nellivila

Hi! My name is Divya, and I’m thrilled to join the Technology team. In my previous teaching role, I specialised in Digital Technology and Food Technology for Years 7-10. Before teaching, I worked as a software engineer, blending my love of technology and problem-solving. I hold an undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering and a Masters in Education.

I’m passionate about guiding students to become responsible and respectful individuals, not just IT-savvy. Whether it’s teaching them how to debug a tricky piece of code or convincing them that saving their work is just as important as breathing, I strive to instil values like resilience, teamwork, and critical thinking alongside practical skills.

When I’m not at school, I love experimenting with new recipes, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. I’m looking forward to getting to know the McKinnon community and supporting our students in reaching their full potential.

Simon Belluzzo

I’m excited to be joining the McKinnon community in 2025, as an ICT and Maths teacher. I’ve been teaching for a few years now, taking a mix of ICT/Digital Technology, Engineering, Maths and Science; as well as managing IT and data analytics, and working on open-source projects.

Before teaching in schools, I was a bioinformatics researcher and worked with supercomputers to analyse DNA from bacteria and assist “wet lab” researchers.

I am passionate about teaching in the technologies and equipping students with the knowledge and skills to solve problems and make the world a better place, and I love seeing what novel ideas and solutions come up with.

Outside the classroom, I enjoy reading, cooking, games of all varieties, and electronics. I also enjoy music, though I hope no one has to listen to my guitar playing any time soon!

GROK LEARNING - BEGINNERS

Perfect for beginners of all ages learning to code with text. Learn how to program in Python while you compete with students from around the world!

The Beginners stream is designed for students with no prior experience at programming. This level is most suited to students who wants to start with the basics.

There are two versions on offer:

Beginners, one in Blockly (block-based coding)
Python (coding with text - this one).

GROK LEARNING - INTERMEDIATE

Perfect for students with some previous coding experience. Improve your Python programming while you compete with students from around the world!

The Intermediate stream is designed for students who have already completed the Beginners stream in a previous year: the Introduction to Programming (Python) or the Python for Beginners course or have some other prior programming experience.

Start Date: 17 February 2025

How to apply:

Email: hmn@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au with your interest and state whether you have Python coding experience, have completed Grok Python in previous years or would like to try it out.

YEAR 7 ROBOTICS CLUB

Exciting News for Year 7 Girls!

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Robotics Club initially for Year 7 girls!

This is the first time our school is running such an exciting club, and we can't wait to explore the amazing world of robotics with the VEX-IQ platform. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience, there's a place for you in our club.

What to Expect:

Learn to Code: Get hands-on with coding and see your creations come to life.
Create: Design and build your robots using VEX-IQ kits.
Collaborate: Work in teams to tackle challenges and develop your problem-solving skills.
Compete: we will be venturing into the world of competitions (practice for now!)

Joining the Robotics Club is a fantastic way to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) in a fun and engaging environment. We can't wait to see the innovative ideas and solutions you’ll come up with!

Successful students have already been emailed!

Thank you to all who have expressed interest. The intention will be to expand the club and open to all year levels in 2026, however, numbers will be restricted based on an EoI and year-level interest!

Meeting Details:

Start Date: Tuesday, 11 February (Week 3)
Time: Every Tuesday Lunchtime
Location: Room R04

Note for Year 7 Boys: Your turn will come in Semester 2! Keep an eye out for the Expression of Interest Form at the end of Semester 1.

We look forward to seeing you there and embarking on this exciting journey together!

Warmest regards,

Ms Mary Ho

ICT Learning Area Manager